History & Varieties of Jewish

In spite of the mystical tradition that runs so deep in Judaism, very little has been written about the history of meditation in Judaism. Verman's book combines history and practice as it examines the diversity of Jewish meditation practices in great depth. Verman begins with a study of the roots of Jewish meditation in ancient Israel and proceeds to explore the development of a number of meditation practices, including music and chanting, that enable practitioners to bridge the gap between God and themselves. The author also comments on the ways that meditation techniques such as breathing and body posture prepare the practitioner for the experience of meditation. By retelling the stories of the great rabbis and their instructions on meditation, Verman beautifully grounds the contemporary practice of Jewish meditation in the history of Judaism itself. (July)